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A fantastic restaurant if you are looking to treat yourself. It was refurbished last year and has a modern but elegant feel to it. The food while not cheap is really wonderful, particularly the masala fish.
18 Regal Building
Connaught Circus
Tel: 11 2336 0717 (info)
A fantastic venue situated at the top of Le Meridien hotel, Henri's is the highest bar in Delhi. The floor to celing windows offer breathtaking views of Rajpath and India Gate. The bar staff are friendly, courteous and proud to point out the areas of interest below. A great place to get your bearings in Delhi and the 4-6pm happy hour doesnt hurt either.
Le Méridien New Delhi,
Windsor Place,
New Delhi - 110001
Tel : - +91 11 2371 0101
Situated in the basement of one of Madurai's larger hotels, this bar is definitely worth checking out. It's got Logan's Run-style space-age decor, which will make you feel just like you're in outer space...because it's so weird.
Tamil Nadu's not big on licensed premises, so the locals (invariably male) tend to nurse a soft drink and watch the tourists, but it's a fun place (if a bit loud when the sound system cranks up). And they give you yummy bar snacks with every drink!
In the basement of the Hotel Supreme, 110 West Perumal Maistry Street, Madurai.
www.supremehotels.com/apollo.htm
Stunning building over a 100 years old - the room's are fantastic and it's a perfect setting.
There's quite a few Hotel Temples in India, I expect: this one just off Assi Ghat is a good one. It's not luxurious, but for the price (Rs 350, about 4 quid, for a double) it's very decent and enjoys a prime location overlooking the Ganges at the southern tip of the ghats.
The next best thing about the place is the staff, who make every effort possible for you. The food, on the other hand, owes a little too much to Maggi tomato ketchup.
tel : 542 236 8740, 236 8640, 236 8703
Fax : 0091-542-2368703
E-mail : info@hoteltemple.com
www.hoteltemple.com
www.angelfire.com/hi3/hoteltemple/
Tiny little eatery run by a wonderful motherly Tibetan lady and her daughter. They make the best Thukpa...either veg or chicken..and her momos are to die for. All for a few rupees.
Down one of the many side alleys past the bus station off the mall.
I have tried the looking in the eye thing for touts and beggars, and it works sometimes and most times does not. I have now learned when someone persists in tugging at my clothes or puts unwanted goods in front of my face, I just put the palm of my hand right up in their face and say “NO” ... this has never failed me!
Connaught Place is the worst for being bothered
Hot Joint is a street food vendor set up in Mayur Vihar PH 1. It’s sort of off the beaten path for tourists, but well worth the trip. They have the best chicken sandwiches, chow mein, soups, momos etc of any other street vendor. Run by Nepalese, they are very friendly, and get to know their customers on a name basis after a few visits. Food is clean, and very cheap. My husband and I can get a full meal for about 80 rupees... and that is for both of us!
Not sure of the street name, but its right off the main street in Mayur Vihar PH 1, ask anyone, they will know it!
Good bargaining skills are a must for any traveller to India, and Delhi has some great places to practice. Remember that some places have fixed prices, this will usually be posted somewhere in the store.
Sometimes a merchant may try to trick you and say "fixed price", simply turn around and walk out. If he's lying, he'll stop you and offer "special price". In most markets like Jaanphat, and Dilli Hatt you can get great deals. A good method is to offer half of what they want and then from there work your way up slowly if you need to.
An old manmade concrete pond, quite a lonesome place, very peaceful, just behind the Consulate of Malta. Don't go alone, if you are scared. Sometimes closed for restoration. Amazing to see the surrounding skyscrapers, but this place dates from the 12th century!
Not far from Connaught Place, very close to Max Muller Bhawan
The building is a tall, multi-storey edifice housing offices and airlines. Just step diagonally to the building, take your time, and look at it. It is lovely with tiles covering it. Beautiful.
Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Connaught Place
This is a 6,100m high trekking peak close to Leh. Hire a local guide and horses to make the approach a bit easier. Fantastic views to the Karakoram, including K2.
Leh, Ladakh
Founded in 1913, Karim's is the most famous Mughlai restaurant in Delhi, serving the food, which once caressed the palates of the Mughal Emperors. The kebabs are succulent, the biryanis fragrant and the kormas and other curries rich and satisfying. Make sure you try the mutton bara, grilled, marinated chops. Prices from start at 80 rupees for a half dish to 150 rupees for a whole one
Karim's has two branches, of which the original is a set of restaurants surrounding a little courtyard just off the road that leads from the south entrance to the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. The other is in the Muslim enclave of Nizamuddin, in south Delhi
The Delhi variation on this well-known trick is particularly nasty.
If a shoeshine man should happen to spring up from nowhere and point out the sudden appearance of a nasty gobbet of ... poo on your shoe, don't be fooled. Stuff doesn't just appear on top of your shoe - that's against the laws of physics - if you'd stepped in something it would be underneath, wouldn't it?
Yes, the scam artist put it there himself while you weren't looking and will try to extract a hefty fee from you while making a big fuss about sorting it out. Be hard and don't pay any more than the going rate - 10 to 20Rs or so.
Especially around Connaught Place and other touristy spots
Watch out if you need to leave some luggage for a while at the international airport. You will be told that the list on the wall is for staff only - rates for the public are a lot higher. When we returned to collect, we said that we had checked with the airport authority and that the rate on the wall was for us as well. The cost dropped from 300 rupees to 40.
Near the arrivals section
If you can, embark or disembark at the next stop along the line.
I thought I'd seen it all but this weekend I found myself literally fighting for platform space with thousands of fellow passengers. Parts of the station are under serious repair (and, this being India, will be for some time to come yet) and have the feel of a bombsite-cum-assault course.
Add to this carts full of baggage blocking your path, porters with unwieldy loads balanced on their heads bashing into you plus the chaotic masses that are India, and you have a recipe for disaster. It took me 25 minutes to get off the platform - I timed it.
On the other hand, you may never get a better photo opportunity that sums up the riotous melee of Asia like this.
It is a craft and food market (bazaar). Full of lovely clothes, interesting accessories and beautiful handmade crafts. Best of all, there are food stalls from almost each state of India. One could eat south Indian Dosa, east Indian Momos (dumplings) or North Indian chaat.
A microcosm of Indian crafts and tastes.
Dilli Haat, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Opp. INA Market, New Delhi, India 110023.
Phone : +91-11-4629365, 6119055
www.delhitourism.com/dttdc/dilli-haat.html
If you need new glasses or contact lenses, Mr Uberoi is fast, reliable and I got the best contact lenses I have ever had from him, ready in 4 hours and £30 for the pair!
B Block of Connaught Place
This is one of the first guest houses in Leh and it is one of the few in the old town just underneath the palace with stunning views from a wonderful roof terrace.
Needless to say that the owners are wounderful friendly people and are more than happy to organise an unforgettable trekking experience.
Rooms vary from budget to nice double with bath and views but numbers of rooms are limited and booking well ahead is a must.
Enjoy!!
Michael
A budget heritage hotel. Our tour organiser had booked us into Rajasthan's luxury heritage hotels, but we tired a little of the formula. This one, we booked ourselves and were more than happy with. It has a lovely secluded courtyard and an excellent rooftop restaurant where we dined every night. The hotel is small, comfortable and full of character.
Perfectly positioned at the gates to the old town. Address: Goverdhan Chowk, 345 001 Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
price: Rs900-1,500. Suites Rs2,100. Plus 10% tax. Peak season: October-March.
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